When to Go
Summer (roughly June through August) is peak season, when Abha's mild climate offers the sharpest contrast to the rest of the country and local festivals like the Abha Season and Al-Soudah Season bring extra events and activities. That said, the cooler months bring their own appeal — clearer skies for mountain views, fewer crowds, and a quieter version of the same scenery.
A Brief History
Abha's roots stretch back to the 1st century AD, when it was a settlement under Nabataean influence. Muslim forces took the region in the 7th century, and it later passed through Umayyad, then Mamluk control for more than two centuries, before the Ottomans ruled it for over 300 years. Isolated for much of its history by its mountainous terrain, Abha became part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1920, and only in more recent decades has it developed into the tourism destination it is today.